RESCUE TAILS: AN FKSPCA SUCCESS STORY “COCO & MURPHY”

BY TAMMY FOX-ROYER
Executive Director Florida Keys SPCA

At the FKSPCA, we accept animals of all ages — and all of them deserve to find a loving, forever home.

But there is no doubt that finding homes for older animals can sometimes be a challenge. Many new owners are wary of falling in love with an older animal that might not have too many years left or might develop unfortunate health problems.

Such was the case with Coco and Murphy — two Chihuahuas (age 6 and 11) who were surrendered to the FKSPCA when their owner become terminally ill and could no longer care for them. This adorable pair had lived together since Coco was born and we desperately hoped to find a single home for them both. Losing their owner was obviously traumatic enough — we did not want to separate them from each other.

But fate was smiling down on Coco and Murphy. Shortly after they arrived at the shelter, Mickey and his wife, Shirley, came to the Marathon Campus looking for a new companion after the devastating loss of their own beloved dogs. But Mickey was worried that the shelter might not let them adopt a new pet because of Mickey’s own age — he is 100! (Shirley does not reveal her age).

But Mickey is an extraordinary man, who at 100 years old still plays trumpet at the Ale House in Marathon every Saturday night! To add icing on the cake, our 6/60 program matches animals over the age of 6 with people over the age of 60 — absolutely free!

Thus began a match made in heaven. Mickey and Shirley have new companions to help fill their own loss. And Coco and Murphy have a home together with a new family who absolutely adores them!

If you’d like to help more animals like Coco and Murphy, please donate to our new shelter building fund by going to https://www.gofundme.com/key-west-animals-need-safe-shelter

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